Turbotransmission



Dec. 5, 1944. J. JANDASEK TURBO' TRANSMISSION Filed June 15, 1942 INVENT-OR BY 9; z 5! ATToRNEYa Patented ,Dec. 5, 1944 TURBOTRANSMISSION Joseph Jandasek, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 13, 1942, s mi No. 446,984 a 15 Claims.

.power flow mechanical transmission having a turbounit interposed in one of the paths and wherein manually operable means are provided to render'the fluid drive inoperative and transmit power solely through the mechanical gearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transmission having a driving shaft which if desired may be operably connected to a pair of spaced engines to transmit power through combined mechanical and fluid actuated transmissions to a driven shaft,. and wherein means are provided to vary the speed ratio of multi-path power flow through the mechanical transmission and to render the fiuid transmission inoperative tovary the speed and torque ratios of .the driven shaft with reference to the driving shaft.

Yet a still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a power transmitter having a multi-path mechanical power flow device and a; fluid actuated regenerative power transmitting device interposed in one of the paths of mechanical power flow and wherein manually operable means are provided to render one of the paths of power flow inoperative to also render inoperative the fluid power regenerative system and transmit power through another of the mechan cal paths of power flow at increased speed to eifect a mechanical overdrive.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined mechanical and fluid actuated power transmitting mechanism wherein variable speed driving means are interposed between the regenerative system and the driving shaft.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a regenerative power transmission wherein declutching means are provided to render inoperative the drive of the turbine to the driving shaft shaft overruns the driving shaft to transmit power from the driven shaft to the driving shaft to prevent a free wheeling condition.

Another object. is to provide one-way driving means between a driving shaft and a member driven by a regenerative turbodrive system.

Other objects and'advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being bad for that purpose to the subjoined claims. In thedrawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a transmission device embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat modified form of the invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its-application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing-since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to Fig. 1. it will be observed that a driving shaft to which may, if desired, be connected at opposite ends to spaced engines, is preferably provided with a radially extending flange I2 having planet pinion shafts l 4 rotatably mounted therein. The planet pinion shafts have a plurality of spaced pinions l6 positioned to engage a sun gear l8'operably connected through a radially extending flange 20 to an axially extending flange 22 which-may be he'ld against rotation by'any suitable means such for example as a brake mechanism 24.

The pinion shafts l4 are provided at their other end with spaced pinions 26 and 28 of different extending flange 34 carried by the driving sleeve 32. The casing 58 is operably connected through an inwardly extending flange 66 to a sun gear 68 meshing with the inner peripheries of the planet pinions 38 carried by the stub shafts 36 of the flange 34 flxed to the driving sleeve 32.

A turbine I of any suitable form is aligned with the impeller 60 and cooperates therewith to form a suitable power transmitting fluid circuit. The turbine I0 is provided with a hub I2 ,driven shaft 48 at lower speed than normal, the

brake structure 24 may be actuated to lock the sun gear I8 against rotation. The pinions I6 then rotate about the sun gear I8 and power is transmitted through the pinions 26 and 28 through the sun gears and ring gear 50 respectively to transmit power through both paths of power flow referred to above.

operably connected through a one-way clutch I4 to drive the driving sleeve 32.

The housing 52 is provided with a braking mechanism I6 whereby the ring gear 50 andsun gear 68 and casing 58 may be locked against ro-, tation to render the regenerative turbounit inoperative and transmit power mechanically through the driving sleeve 32 and ring gear 40 to the drive shaft 46 at a preferably higher speed.

The operation of this device is as follows:

Power is applied to one or both ends of the driving shaft I0 by suitable prime movers operably connected, to either or both ends of the driving path of power is transmitted through the ring gear 50 and is exerted through the members 54, 56, 58 and 66 to drive the sun gear 68 and impeller 60.

The other path of power flows from the pinion gears 26 through the sun gear 30, driving sleeve 32, flange 34, stub shafts 36, and pinions 38. Power thus exerted on the pinions 38 is augmented by the power from the first mentioned path of power flow through the sun gear 68 and the total power is applied to rotate the ring gear 40 operably connected through the inwardly extending flange -42 and bevelled gears 44 to drive the driven shaft 46.

The first mentionedpath of power flow from the ring gear 50 results in rotation of the casing 58 to rotate the impeller 60, thereby energizing fluid and directing it to the turbine I0. Energy absorbed by the turbine I0 is transmitted through the hub I2 and one-way clutch 14 to be exerted on the driving sleeve 32, thereby increasing the power transmitted through the second path of power flow recited, through the driving sleeve 32 and proportionately decreasing the proportion of power transmitted through the path of power flow from the ring gear 50.

When it is desired to drivethe driven shaft 46 at a higher speed. than th normal drive, the brake mechanism I6 may be actuated to lock The diameter of the sun gear I8 with reference to the pinion gears I6 and the diameters of the pinion gears 26 and 28 determine the ratio of speed of each of the paths of power flow. Since when a gear ratio of these parts is ascertained the ratio of the sun gear 68 and pinions 38 and ring gear 40 can be ascertained, the speed of rotation of the driven shaft 46 will be determined when the ratio of the bevelled gears 44 is known.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 a driving shaft I00 is preferably aligned with a driven shaft I02. The driving shaft is provided with a radial flange I04 having stub shafts I06 provided with spaced pinion gears I08 and H0 respectively. The driven shaft I02 is formed with a radial flange II2 operably connected to a ring gear II4 through an axially extending flange H6. The ring gear II4 preferably meshes with the pinion gears I08 to transmitpower from the driving shaft I00 to the driven shaft I02.

The pinion gears IIO mesh at their outer peripheries with a ring gear II8 carried by a rotatable housing I20 adapted to be locked against rotation b a brake structure I22 to vary the speed ratio of power transmitted from the driving shaft I00 to the driven shaft I02.

The inner peripheries of the pinion gears IIO mesh with a sun gear I24 carried by a sleeve I26 provided with an impeller I28 having an impeller channel I30 aligned with a turbine member I32 having a channeland cooperating with the impeller channel to form a power transmitting fluid circuit. The turbine I32 is housed in a casing I34 having an inwardly extending flange I36 preferably concentrically mounted on the sleeve I 26 and an axially extending flange I38 having a ring gear I40 meshing with planet pinions I42 mounted on stub shafts I44 carried by a member I46 concentrically mounted on the driving shaft I00 and operably connected therewith through one-way driving means I48. The planet pinions I42 also have planet pinions I50 preferably of a different diameter meshing with a sun gear I52 carried by a radially extending flange I54 terminating in an axially extending flange I56 adapted to be engaged by a brake structure I58 to hold the sun gear I52 against rotation.

The inner peripheries of the pinion gears I42 mesh with a sun gear I60 carried by an axially extending sleeve I62 mountedon a radially extending flange I64 terminating in an axially extending flange I66 adapted to be engaged by a braking structure I68.

through the sun gear I24, sleeve I26 and impeller web I28 to permit the impeller I30 to energize fluid in the turbounit. Rotation of the turbine l 32 is transmitted through the flange I38 and ring gear Mil to rotate the planet pinions M2 operably connected through the stub shaft I44 and member M6 and one-way clutch I48 to regenerate a portion of the applied power back to the driving shaft I 00 when the brake structure I68 is actuated to hold the sun gear I60 against rotation.

When still greater regeneration of power is desired, the brake structure IE8 is released and the brake structure I58 is actuated to hold thesun gear 052 against rotation. Pinion gears I50 then rotate about the sun gear I 52, increasing the speed of rotation of the stub shafts Hi l and member M6 transmitted through the one-way clutch M8 to the driving shaft loll.

If no regeneration of power is desired, the brake structures I58 and Hit may both be released whereupon the ring gear I will rotate freely about the drive shaft Hill and no power will be transmitted through the turbounit.

If a low speed mechanical drive is desired. the brake structure I22 may be actuated to lock the ring gear H8 against rotation. The pinion gears Illl then rotate within the ring gear H8 and power is transmitted through the pinions Hi8 and the'ring gear I I4 to the driven shaft 502 at a reduction in speed.

I claim:

1. A transmission comprising a driving shaft, axially spaced groups of planet pinions operably connected to the driving shaft, axially spaced ring and sun gears operably connected to said planet pinions, auxiliary 'planet'pinions spaced from said first named planet pinions, two path driving means between said ring and sun gears and said last named planet pinions, driving means between the last named planet pinions and the driven shaft, a regenerative turbounit interposed between said planet pinions comprising spaced impeller and turbine members cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit interposed between said planet pinions and driven by one of said paths of power flow. and one-way driving means between the turbine and the other of said paths of power flow.

2. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts, an impeller driven by the planetary gearing, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, speed varying means associated with the turbine, and one-way driving means between the speed varying means and the driving shaft.

3. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts. an impeller operably connected to the planetary gearing, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, and one-way driving means between the impeller and the driving shaft to arrest backward rotation of the driving shaft with reference to the driven shaft when the speed of rotation of the driven shaft overruns the speed of rotation of the driving shaft.

4. A transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing between the driving and driven shafts, a turbounit comprising an impeller driven by the planetary gearing, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, speed varying planetary gearing between the turbine and the driving shaft, and one-way driving means between the speed varying planetary gearing and the driving shaft.

5. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts, axially spaced pinion gears driven by said planetary gearing, an impeller driven by said pinion gears, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluidv circuit, speed varying planetary gearing driven by the turbine, and one-way driving means between the speed varying planetary gearing and driving shaft.

6. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts, axially spaced pinion gears driven by said planetary gearing, an impeller driven by said, pinion gears, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form apower transmitting fluid circuit, one-way driving means between the turbine and driving shaft, and one-way driving means between the impeller and the driving shaft to prevent backward rotation of the driven shaft relative to the driving shaft.

7. A transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, spaced planetary gear means, fluid power transmitting means interposed between the spaced planetary gearing, one-way driving means between one of said planetary gear means and the driving shaft, and speed varying means interposed between said planetary gear means and the driving shaft.

8. A transmission comprising a driving member, a. driven member, spaced planetary gear means, connecting means between one of the planetary gear means and the driven member, fluid power transmitting means comprising aligned impeller and turbine members cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit interposed between said spaced planetary gear- I ing associated with the driven shaft, two paths of power flow between said planetary gearing, a regenerative fluid transmission comprising an impeller interposed in one of said paths of power flow to be driven by the variable speed planetary gearing associated with the driving shaft, a turbinealigned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, and one-way driving means between the turbine and the other of said paths of power flow.

10. A transmission comprising a drive shaft, a

driven shaft, spaced planetary gear means associated with the driving and driven shafts, two paths of power flow between the spaced planetary gear means, a regenerative fluid transmission interposed in one of the paths of power flow, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating A therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, one-way driving means between the turbine and the other of said paths of power flow, and speed varying means associated with one of said planetary gear means to vary the speed of the impeller.

11. A transmission comprising a driving shaft, variable speed planetary gearing associated with the driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing associated with the driven shaft, two paths of power flow interposed between the planetary gearing associated with the driving and driven shafts, a fluid transmission comprising impeller and turbine members cooperating to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, connecting means between the impeller and the variable speed planetary gearing whereby the impeller may be driven at different speeds, and one-way driving means between the turbine and the other of said paths of power flow.

12. A transmission comprising a driving member, a driven member, spaced planetary gear sets. connecting means between one of the planetary gear sets and the driven member, fluid power transmitting means comprising an impeller driven by one of said planetary gear sets, manually operable means associated with one of the planetary gear sets to vary the speed of rotation of the impeller, a turbine associated with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, and one-way driving means associated with the turbine to direct powerto a driving member.

13. A transmission comprising a driving shaft,

. crating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, and one-way driving means between the turbine and the other of said paths of power flow.

14. A transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, speed varying planetary gear means between the driving and driven shafts, a regenerative fluid power transmission comprising an impeller driven by said speed varying planetary gear means, a turbine aligned with the impeller,v and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, a member concentrically mounted on the driving shaft, oneway driving means between said member and the driving shaft, and speed varying planetary gear means between the turbine and said member.

15. A transmission comprising aligned driving and driven shafts, speed varying planetary gear means between the driving and driven shafts, an impeller concentrically mounted on the driving shaft and driven by the planetary gear means, one-way driving means between the impeller and the driving shaft to permit forward rotation of the driving shaft relative to the impeller, a turbine aligned with the impeller and cooperating therewith to form a power transmitting fluid circuit, speed varying planetary gearing driven by the turbine, and one-way driving means between the planetary gearing and the driving shaft.

JOSEPH JANDASEK. 

